bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Liu Zhen

China appears to be streamlining construction of its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, embarking on mooring trials for the Fujian at the same time as it installs and calibrates equipment.
Mooring trials test all systems on a vessel – from power propulsion to mechanical equipment – in terms of how they work individually as well as together.
The Fujian is the biggest and most complex warship developed in China, with advanced electromagnetic catapults – technology that only the United States has put into service with the USS Gerald R. Ford.
Fitting out the Fujian could take until next year but doing it at the same time as the mooring trials could reduce the time until delivery, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.
The trials are taking place just three months after the vessel’s launch at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard.
The Shandong, the country’s second carrier, started full mooring trials four months after launch.
Once completed, the carrier will undergo sea trials and further tests such as ship-borne plane operation before entering service.
When it is combat ready, the Fujian is expected to play a significant role in any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait, an area of rising tensions with the US.


Meanwhile, the Liaoning, the country’s first carrier, marked its first decade in service with a “full load exercise” in the Bohai Sea.
For the first time, the warship conducted a drill loaded to capacity with 24 J-15 fighter jets, two Z-8 multi-role helicopters and a Z-9 helicopter on its flight deck, according to the CCTV report.
The Liaoning was commissioned on September 25, 2012. At the time, the warship had no aircraft on board but two months later, the first J-15 took off and landed on the ship.
Over the decade, as the experience and number of the pilots and operators grew, the number of aircraft on the vessel slowly rose to finally being able to fill up its hangars.
It took five years for the Liaoning to complete 1,000 J-15 take-off and landing operations, and half the time to do the next 1,000.


The Liaoning was an incomplete Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier bought from Ukraine in 1998 and towed to China in 2002. It was retrofitted in the following years and finally delivered to the People’s Liberation Army Navy in 2012.
Based on Liaoning, China built its second carrier Shandong, which was launched in 2017 and commissioned in 2019. It was the first to be built domestically and has a ski-jump take-off ramp.
The three aircraft carriers are only part of the PLA Navy’s fleet that has grown rapidly over the past 10 years. It is now the world’s largest navy by number of vessels, with some of the most powerful warships.


Chinese navy to make regular visits to Hong Kong, in move praised by analysts

South China Sea: Chinese military says reef patrols stepped up amid Philippines tension

China, Pakistan talk security as they target terrorism against belt and road projects

‘Groundless’: China dismisses report of corruption probe into Defence Minister Dong Jun

China’s military

China puts Fujian aircraft carrier systems to milestone test

Mooring trials have started for China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Photo: Weibo

China’s aircraft carrier No 4 will not catch up with US Navy’s nuclear-powered giants, analysts say

China’s recently launched third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has a conventional diesel-powered propulsion system. Photo: Weibo

When will China’s Fujian aircraft carrier be ready for active duty?

The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier, and the first to be equipped with advanced launch technology comparable to its US counterparts. Photo: Kyodo

China’s Fujian aircraft carrier is expected to be equipped with the KJ-600 early warning and control aircraft. Photo: Weibo

China launches Fujian, PLA Navy’s 3rd aircraft carrier

Celebrations as China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier is launched from Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai. Photo: CCTV

Political slogans in large white Chinese characters against a red background attached to shelters on the deck of the Fujian, China’s latest aircraft carrier, for its launch. Photo: CCTV

News

China

Military

Mooring trials taking place at the same time as fitting out, which could save time, state broadcaster says
Vessel expected to be a major presence in the Taiwan Strait


Mooring trials taking place at the same time as fitting out, which could save time, state broadcaster says.


China's military weapons

China’s aircraft carriers

Liaoning aircraft carrier

Fujian Type 003 aircraft carrier

China puts Fujian aircraft carrier systems to milestone test

Mooring trials taking place at the same time as fitting out, which could save time, state broadcaster says Vessel expected to be a major presence in the Taiwan Strait

Mooring trials taking place at the same time as fitting out, which could save time, state broadcaster says

Vessel expected to be a major presence in the Taiwan Strait